Create Your Outdoor Living Space

Back to School in Your Backyard

Just because the kids are back in school doesn't mean your backyard has to sit mostly unused until next summer. Check out these fun ideas on how to continue using your backyard as a family.

Study Outside

Here's a nice idea for a comfy couch and chairs for a study space.

(dwell.com)

After being cooped up inside all day, it can be nice and healthy to breathe in that fresh air. Set up a comfy study area where the kids can read and do their homework. This can include big cushy chairs or a couch in front of a central table, or you can have more of a library feel where everyone sits around the table working on their projects.

This design concept has more of a library feel with the chairs around the table. But it's still cozy!

(1stdibs.com)

Perhaps building a more permanent study space isn't in the cards right now, and that's fine! You don't need the seating area to be fancy. Consider putting up a temporary fort or tent just a couple times a week for the kids to crawl into and do their homework. This could be especially fun for young children as they can be creative and build their own space.

Building a fort and doing homework in it can be a nice, fun change to how your kids do their homework. Switching things up is a great thing!

(littlebitfunky.com)

Or, you can keep it simple and set up a picnic area on the grass. Just lay down a blanket and have everyone spread out. Quick and easy!

Grill or Eat Outside

Why not bring food to the study party? When everyone has hit a good spot for a break (because we all know how needed those are when doing homework), put everything aside and enjoy dinner together as a family. You can grill outside while the kids are finishing up or you can cook up dinner inside and bring it out.

Keep the fun outside even after homework is done with a nice dinner!

(maaxspas.com)

Wind Down

It's no secret that school is stressful. That being said, it's important to have a way to wind down at the end of the day. Try turning off phones and computers for the night and just relax. On a hot summer night, it feels great to soak in a pool or hot tub (set with cooler temperatures, of course), or just lay around and take in the quiet of the night.